Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown novel Chapter 125

The door swung open swiftly.

A young woman entered, her eyes scanning the empty bed. "That's odd, where did she go?" she murmured, puzzled.

As she turned, she was startled to see Serena standing behind her, poised with a chair raised threateningly. The young woman crouched down, shouting, "Serena, it's me!"

Serena's stance faltered, her gaze fixed on the familiar yet unplaceable face. Clutching the chair tightly, she demanded, "Who are you?"

"Joy Lewis, Serena, don't you remember me? I visited your school the year my brother graduated!"

"Your brother?"

"Yes, Samuel!"

Finally, recognition dawned on Serena.

She remembered Samuel's graduation day, the day she was tasked with taking photos. His parents and sister were there, but it had been five or six years since then.

The girl before her slowly merged with those distant memories, allowing Serena's tension to ease. "Joy?"

"Yes!" Joy beamed, relief washing over her. "Serena, you finally remember me."

"Why am I here?" Serena questioned, confused. She recalled being kidnapped, but everything else was a blur.

Joy's expression turned awkward. "Well... why don't you have something to eat first? My brother will explain everything to you soon."

Serena nodded slightly.

Was this marriage truly what Serena wanted?

"I had a feeling you weren't genuinely eager to marry Mr. Vance. So, I orchestrated this plan, hiring someone to pose as a kidnapper, lying in wait at the hotel. Amazingly, it worked."

Samuel spoke as if it were simple. Yet only he knew the sleepless nights spent studying the hotel's layout, organizing every detail meticulously to ensure perfection and safety.

"But having me here at your family home is too risky. If Aaron finds out, he won't spare you," Serena cautioned. She knew Aaron well enough to predict the consequences for anyone who crossed him.

"Don't worry," Samuel reassured her. "Mr. Vance won't trace this back to me. By the time he even suspects, you'll already be relocated somewhere safe, and without evidence, there's nothing he can do."

A wave of gratitude washed over Serena. "Thank you, Samuel."

Samuel smiled softly. "For now, stay at my family's old house. It's in a small coastal town, with only a few thousand residents. Most of the younger folks have moved to the cities for work, leaving mainly the elderly behind. They don't use the internet much, so there's no chance of them recognizing you."